Chapter 26: The City In The Mist
“Are you sure it’s five hundred million?” Xiao Fan’s breathing became slightly rapid.
He was just worrying about where to find a financial backer next, and now one had delivered itself to his door?
The youth on the other end of the phone didn’t hesitate, “Yes, as long as Master can save my dad!”
“Where is your position?” Xiao Fan asked urgently.
“Flower Market Haitang District Songshan Villa Garden, just call me when you arrive at Flower Market.” The youth’s speech speed was very fast, seeming very anxious.
“Prepare the reward, I’ll come right away.”
“Okay, we’ll await your arrival.”
Xiao Fan hung up the phone, still a bit excited. Five hundred million—this was catching a big fish.
“Congratulations, five hundred million is no small sum.” Hu Song Shan flattered.
“Heh, just good luck, but mostly thanks to this idiot pig helping me with the sales pitch.” Xiao Fan grinned as he crushed Xu Ning’s finger.
Xu Ning wanted to scream, but Hu Song Shan stepped on his head and blocked it back.
Hu Song Shan smiled faintly: “Then you go do business first. I’ll take over the cleanup.”
Xiao Fan nodded slightly, “Thanks for the trouble.”
Hu Song Shan waved his hand, “Heh, no need to be polite. We’re all brothers. The organization has always advocated for civilian ghost controllers to help each other and break headquarters’ monopoly.”
Xiao Fan said seriously: “Indeed. When I get back, I’ll find you to learn about the process of joining the organization.”
“Excellent.”
“Goodbye, idiot pig.” Xiao Fan spat at Xu Ning, then slammed the door and left.
“Heh heh, now it’s just the two of us.” Hu Song Shan’s voice was relaxed, “This world is becoming more and more dangerous. We want to handle supernatural events too, but handling supernatural events requires funding. As a rich man, shouldn’t Mr. Xu do something?”
Xu Ning remained silent. As long as he could stall until his bodyguards arrived, there was still hope.
His bodyguards had legal permits to carry guns. These ghost controllers were still mortal flesh; he didn’t believe Hu Song Shan wasn’t afraid of bullets.
“Not speaking? You think that bunch of good-for-nothings can rush in and save you? Then let you see their fate with your own eyes.” Hu Song Shan grabbed Xu Ning’s ankle and dragged him all the way to the suite doorway.
Opening the door, seven or eight fully armed bodyguards had all fallen in the corridor. Their bodies were completely shriveled, hollow eye sockets as terrifying as mummies.
“Want to experience that feeling?” Hu Song Shan broke off a shriveled arm and patted Xu Ning’s face with it, “They screamed pretty miserably at the time, but I believe a tough guy like Mr. Xu definitely won’t be like these good-for-nothings, right?”
“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me!” The terrifying scene scared Xu Ning into leaving a puddle on the floor. He trembled and begged, “Spare me and I’ll do anything!”
These guys were definitely not human. He didn’t want to die so pathetically here.
Hu Song Shan helped Xu Ning up and straightened his collar, “Don’t make us seem like the bad guys. I just hope Mr. Xu can donate a little charity for our great cause.”
“How much money do you exactly want?” Xu Ning’s teeth chattered.
“Heh heh.” Hu Song Shan patted his cheek, “Of course, all of it.”
……
“Passengers heading to Flower Market, please note: Flight 007 has been canceled today due to weather reasons. We deeply apologize, please…”
In the bustling airport, a suddenly broadcast announcement made Xiao Fan stop in his tracks.
He listened carefully again, so angry he tore up the ticket in his hand on the spot, “What garbage airport, canceling flights just because of a little mist.”
His angry emotions made him want to go on a killing spree right there, but his remaining reason reminded him to be careful of headquarters’ pursuit.
Killing a few dozen people privately was no big deal, easily pushed off as a supernatural event, but using a fierce ghost’s strength for a massacre in public was a big deal.
Xiao Fan had no doubt that if he dared to kill someone this morning, ghost controllers nationwide would receive his wanted notice by afternoon.
“Fuck!” Cursing, he could only head straight to the parking lot, planning to drive to Flower Market.
For five hundred million, driving it was.
While starting the engine, Xiao Fan cursed Xu Ning, “It’s all that idiot Xu Ning’s fault. He could have just kept supplying me, Xiao Fan, properly, but no, he had to drag in that inexplicable organization.”
Now it was good—Xu Ning was definitely going to be cleaned out, and he could only pick a new sucker.
As for robbing food from that organization, Xiao Fan, a ghost controller who hadn’t even figured out his own ability, didn’t have the guts.
Fortunately, Flower Market wasn’t far from Dadong City. Taking the highway shouldn’t take long.
Since it wasn’t a holiday, there were only a few scattered cars on the road. The red Ferrari sped unimpeded on the highway, improving Xiao Fan’s mood quite a bit.
He recalled what he’d seen and heard these days, still feeling some pent-up anger, “I’ve clearly transcended ordinary people. Why do I have to obey those bullshit laws? Even killing a few ordinary people requires caution, and I have to worry about headquarters’ cleanup.”
“Those ordinary people don’t understand our terror at all. Even an idiot like Xu Ning dared to threaten me, yet headquarters demands we protect ordinary people and not use fierce ghost abilities freely.”
“That organization will definitely clash with headquarters later. If headquarters wins, they’ll manage even stricter. I’ve finally climbed up; I don’t want to live like an ant again…”
“Hm? When did the fog start?”
Unnoticed, faint gray mist had enveloped this land and sky. Fortunately, the faint outline of a city had vaguely appeared not far ahead.
Xiao Fan slowed the car and dialed the youth’s phone.
“Hello, Zhang Qian, right? I’ve arrived at Flower Market. Where are you?”
“I… zzzzt… garden… zzzzt…”
“Hello? Hello?” Xiao Fan tapped the phone in his hand. The other end still only had constant static, “No signal? These vendors just cut corners and find ways to rip people off.”
He tossed the new iPhone aside and turned on the fog lights to drive through the mist.
Strangely, though his speed and time driving increased, the distance to that city didn’t close. It was as if the city was moving forward too.
At some point, the road had only his lone Ferrari left. Even the occasional buses were gone.
Xiao Fan also noticed something wrong. After slowing down, he looked around left and right, “Ghost Wall? This kind of thing happening to me—perfect chance to test what these so-called supernatural events are made of.”
The mist gradually thickened. The road ahead vanished directly into thick fog. Roadside trees hid in the fog, leaving only pitch black phantoms clawing about.
“I’m a ghost controller too; there’s nothing to fear from ghosts.” Xiao Fan steadied his mind, floored the accelerator. The Ferrari’s engine roared, roadside trees flashing by outside the window.
“If there’s really a ghost, come out! See if I can run you over!”
